Established on August 19, 1982, PSFI, as the social arm of Shell companies in the Philippines (SciP), is a pioneer in pursuing best practice projects that respond to the needs of Shell worksites and host communities.

PSFI’s first decade: Laying the foundation

In its first decade of operation, PSFI spearheaded youth development programmes, most notably Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL) which was SciP’s response to the large percentage of unemployed out-of-school youth vis-à-vis the growing demand for skilled industrial workers in the country and abroad.

To boost the agriculture sector, PSFI designed and implemented Sanayan sa Kakayahang Agrikultura (SAKA) to help the youth from the rural areas lead productive lives as farm entrepreneurs. To complement SAKA, Shell Training Farms (STF) were set up in Negros Occidental, Camarines Sur, Benguet and Pililia to cater to the needs of marginalized farmers. To advocate organic farming, the Integrated Farming Bio-Systems was then introduced in STFs in 1998, focusing on the use of organic fertilizers and natural inoculants to help reduce farming costs while preserving agricultural ecosystems.

In the early 90’s, PSFI redirected its programs and began to adopt community-based integrated approaches to respond directly to people’s needs, specifically in areas where Shell facilities were located.

In 1994, Sanayan sa Kakayahang Pangangalakal (SKP), an entrepreneurship skills development course, was introduced. SKP provides residents in poverty-stricken areas technical assistance to establish or expand small businesses. To complement SKP, PSFI extends loans as start-up capital to proponents with viable business plans through Suporta sa Buhay Microfinance Program (SUHAY).

Both SKP and SUHAY were integrated with another livelihood programme called Maghanapbuhay sa Bahay (MagBuhay), which aims to augment the income of poor and idle residents of priority communities through home-based skills training.

A partner for growth

In 1997, PSFI was tasked to manage the Sustainable Development Programs of SciP and the Malampaya Joint Venture Partners (Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., Chevron Malampaya LLC, and Philippine National Oil Company – Exploration Corporation), in conjunction with the development of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project. The capacity-building programs helped enhance local skills and increased employment, improvement of literacy amongst school children, income growth from alternative livelihood, and preservation of endangered species.

To ensure that residents benefit the most from employment opportunities, PSFI designed JobLink to match the skills demanded by the project with the skills available in host communities. Finding out that there were often mismatches prompted PSFI to conduct skills upgrading courses to improve the employability of local residents vis-a-vis the skills demanded by the project.

PSFI came up with a health micro-insurance program tagged Impok pang-Kalusugan (IpK) in Batangas in 2001. IpK is designed to provide wider access to health services and facilities for low-income families with local cooperatives acting as conduits.

PSFI also developed and initiated Kilusan Ligtas Malaria (KLM) in Palawan to eradicate malaria, a disease endemic in the area. The accomplishments of PSFI and its partners in implementing KLM in Palawan paved the way for PSFI to be chosen as the Principal Recipient of a grant from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in 2006. The program called Movement Against Malaria has expanded its coverage from 5 to 40 endemic provinces in the country through the additional grants provided by The Global Fund since 2010; and has resulted to 81% reduction in the total number of cases and 94% reduction in deaths due to malaria in the country in 2011 compared to the 2003 baseline.

In education, PSFI has implanted the Specialized English Enhancement Course for High School and Elementary Teachers (SPEECH) which utilizes interactive IT tools to improve the level of English proficiency and teaching skills of public schools in Palawan, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan.

In 2007, Gas Mo Bukas Ko (GMBK) was launched to provide a better future for Shell station staff through training programs that will enhance their employability and livelihood opportunities.

In 2010, Unlad sa Pasada (USP) program was launched, which is Shell-Retail group’s loyalty program for jeepney drivers and other public utility drivers. The Pepeng Pasada Club offers members’ dependents scholarship grants on technical vocational courses to improve the capacities of their dependents.

In 2011, PSFI launched its newest scholarship program dubbed DRIVE (Drivers' Reward and Incentive) which is offered to the dependents of Class A lorry drivers. Scholars undergo technical and vocational training, including on-the-job training with PSFI’s partner industries like Keppel, Panasonic, and Jollibee.

In all of its programs, PSFI strikes a balance between equipping its beneficiaries with skills to make them productive and imbibing in them the proper values to help them shape a better future for themselves through the Leadership Enhancement and Attitude Development (LEAD) Workshop. It cuts across all programs and is an integral part in the holistic development of PSFI’s scholars and beneficiaries.

Where we are today

PSFI actively participates in programs with environmental causes. Among the programs supported by PSFI include Earth Day 2012, Bawas Basura sa Barangay (Triple B), is a solid waste management program in Shell worksites and its surrounding communities. In Pandacan, Triple B is regarded as one of the most effective waste management programs in the City of Manila.

In support of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, PSFI has already conducted a number of Road Safety Camps and Workshops for almost 14,000 youths in Pandacan, Cebu, Bacolod and Batangas.

Three decades of meaningful journey

The Malampaya Sustainable Development Program received the World Summit Business Award for Sustainable Development Partnerships given by the United Nations International Chamber of Commerce in 2002. Kilusan Ligtas Malaria won the Anvil Award and Gold Quill Awards for Excellence in 2003.

In 2004, PSFI received the Gold Quill Award of Merit for Impok pang-Kalusugan, a micro-health insurance program. These awards add up to the Grand Anvil Awards previously received for Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal, Sanayan sa Kakayahang Agrikultura, and the Shell Training Farms.In 2007, PSFI bagged another Award of Merit in the Gold Quill Awards for the Pandacan Expanded Assistance for Community Empowerment (PEACE) implemented in Pandacan, Manila.

In 2009, PSFI’s SAKA sa Palawan received the Governor’s Award in the field of Education from the Provincial Government of Palawan.

In 2011, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) headed by the UN Resident Coordinator Jacquelyn Badcock, and Probe Media Foundation headed by its President, Cheche Lazaro, organized The Search for the Philippines’ Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Warriors. The competition was a nationwide search for individuals or organizations whose selfless work and commitment to public service have made a significant impact on the achievement of the MDGs. Movement Against Malaria was chosen as MDG warrior for Goal number six – Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases, for its significant achievement in reducing the number of cases of malaria in the country.

As a corporate foundation, PSFI aims to identify and implement strategic social investments that benefit the people and communities as well as provide value to the Shell business in the country. Continuing its fruitful journey, PSFI shall relentlessly pursue its mission to go beyond philanthropy and implement innovative programs that empower millions of lives to see the road to productivity and contribute to fueling growth towards national development.